Outward Bound

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 7, 1910

One of the outbound missionaries, Elder R. W. Munson, with his family, on leaving Australia for the East Indian mission field, where he had before labored, writes:—

“We are glad, very glad, to be permitted to return to the land of our adoption, the ever-green shores of the East India islands. Yet we have a keen sense of the heavy responsibility that rests upon us as workers for God in that difficult and very needy field.

“I never felt more than I do to-day that without Christ we can do nothing. Except he go up with us, it will be vain for us to go up hence. But we have the blessed assurance, ‘Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.’ That being the case, we feel brave as did Caleb and Joshua at Kadesh-barnea when they said, ‘Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.’

“In the name of Israel’s God we go up against the high-walled cities of the East Indies, particularly of Java. There are giants in the land, but we shall conquer as did Israel, but I do not want to wait forty years before seeing the work accomplished. Pray for us that we may not limit the God of Israel through unbelief. Pray for all the workers, and write to them cheering, encouraging letters now and then.

“You have little idea what cheer, what hope and confidence, it puts into our hearts to hear from you. You can never know what trials oppress us and what terrors sometimes assail us, until you are situated as we are. Therefore, pray for us! We are down in the mine; you must hold the ropes. Those who pray will give. You can not feel a burden for the island fields and not pay as well as pray for them.”